SNP manifesto: how we’ll support Scotland’s older people

We will always ensure that the contribution older people have made throughout their lives is recognised.

Here’s what an SNP government will do for Scotland’s older people.

Through the National Entitlement Card, Scotland’s older people and disabled people will continue to be able to travel for free on local or Scottish long distance buses.

We will protect free personal and nursing care for the elderly.

Prescriptions and eye tests will remain free of charge.

Low income pensioners will be protected from Labour’s Basic Rate of Income Tax hike.

Winter Fuel Payments will be protected, and we’ll ensure early payment to the almost 80,000 pensioners who live ‘off-grid’, so they can take advantage of lower prices.

We will provide resources for a new programme of financial health check-ups to help pensioners and those on low incomes make the most of their money, secure the best energy tariffs and make it easier to access bank accounts.

We will develop and implement a national strategy to tackle social isolation backed by a fund of £500,000 in 2016/17.

We will continue to provide practical and financial support for kinship and foster care families, and introduce a new national allowance for kinship care and foster care.

We will review the legislation to ensure the interests of children and their need to form and maintain relationships with key adults in their lives – including grandparents – are at the heart of any new statutory measures.

Our NHS will be made fit for the future with nearly £2 billion of extra investment by the end of the next parliament. New action will be taken to tackle cancer and mental health services will be improved too.

We will invest £200 million in five new elective treatment centres across the country – to ensure faster, better care for planned operations such as hip and knee replacements and cataract procedures.

We will reform the NHS to meet the challenge of an ageing population by investing an additional £1.3 billion in our health and social care partnerships, reforming primary care and increasing the numbers of GPs and nurses working in our communities.